David Shrigley, Live Each Day As If It Were Your First, 2022

Live Each Day As If It Were Your First (2022) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

Live Each Day As If It Were Your First (2022) is a striking David Shrigley screenprint that pairs a chaotic, multi-coloured organic form with the artist's signature faux-naive typography. Executed in twenty distinct hand-pulled layers, the composition features a vibrant central shape resembling a blooming, abstract tree rendered in deep blues, shocking pinks, acid yellows, and rich forest greens. The stark white background isolates these brilliant hues, directing immediate focus to the deadpan text below.

Through this specific pairing of playful imagery and text, the artist subverts the ubiquitous language of self-help culture with characteristic absurdity. Rather than suggesting existential wisdom, the command to live like a newborn baby introduces a comically impossible paradox, highlighting the futility of modern lifestyle mantras. This tension between the childish enthusiasm of the colourful splatters and the ridiculousness of the text defines the composition's dark satirical edge.

David Shrigley

As a celebrated figure in contemporary British art, the artist is widely recognised for a practice spanning drawing, sculpture, and large-scale public installations. Having received a Turner Prize nomination in 2013 and a high-profile commission for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, his work is held in prestigious international collections including the Tate and the British Council. His inclusion in the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition further cements his position within the British art establishment.

Translating spontaneous, ink-on-paper sketches into highly controlled graphic works remains central to his creative process. This particular David Shrigley print exemplifies how the raw energy of a rapid drawing can be elevated through formal printmaking techniques. The resulting edition maintains the immediacy of a notebook scribble while achieving a monumental physical presence.

Screenprint Process

Utilising an intricate, multi-layered silk-screen process allows for an exceptional depth of colour and structural precision. This graphic edition involves twenty separate colour layers applied to Somerset tub sized 410gsm paper, ensuring each hue remains crisp and entirely saturated. The thick, tactile nature of the paper substrate absorbs the heavy ink deposits beautifully, preserving the matte finish that defines the best contemporary screenprints.

By employing hand-pulled stencils, the printmakers successfully capture the subtle imperfections of the artist's original ink line. Published in collaboration with the renowned Jealous Gallery, each David Shrigley limited edition print from this series is meticulously supervised to ensure the final output mirrors the energetic spontaneity of the initial sketch. The resulting edition represents a masterclass in translating immediate mark-making into a durable, high-impact format.

Collectability

Demonstrating consistent strength across global auctions, the market for these satirical graphic works continues to attract sophisticated collectors worldwide. The combination of high-impact visual palette and instantly recognisable text drives sustained demand for these distinctively British editions. As institutional interest in the artist's career remains high, these graphic sheets are increasingly prioritised by those building comprehensive contemporary portfolios.

Representing a major colour work from his highly regarded 2022 printmaking period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of the artist's output. Given the strict limitation of the limited edition of 125, opportunities to acquire Live Each Day As If It Were Your First are increasingly scarce on the secondary market. This limited availability, coupled with the piece's exceptional palette size, ensures its enduring appeal among discerning collectors.